The success of a leader relies on the ability to unlock employee
potential, find solutions, and meet organizational objectives.
Yet when individuals are always
looking to you for answers, it’s easy to fall into the trap of providing an
immediate solution to every challenge without first taking the time to listen
and understand the full scope of the situation.
Here are some practical tips to
improve and leverage listening skills that will enhance your leadership
capabilities. If you’re interested in a more hand’s on approach, consider hiring an
executive coach to help you effectively improve your leadership
style fast.
It Pays to Slow Down
In today’s fast-paced digital
era, you don’t have to scroll far on social media to find troves of industry
leaders and managers competing to offer the “best” solutions to every problem
they come across, all vying to prove that they are the smartest, the wisest,
and the one with all the right answers.
But there is a much-overlooked
response to every question that can help you. That response is simply to listen.
The top leadership consulting
companies provide the necessary coaching and training programs to its managers
and leaders. If you hold a leadership or managerial role, you may feel that you
already spend a lot of time listening to others. You may even consider yourself
to be a good listener. But how often do you find yourself lost in your
note-taking, or considering your own response before your employees have
finished speaking?
In fact, studies show that
we’re able to remember much less information from listening than we think. Research carried out at the
University of Minnesota shows that we only retain about 50% of what we’ve just
been told. Listening is a skill that everyone needs to practice.
A Powerful Tool
Once mastered, listening can be
one of the most powerful tools for anyone to possess. As a leader, you have a
key opportunity to take the time needed to understand everyone in the
workplace. When we are faced with challenges or situations that feel familiar,
it is hard not to jump to conclusions. We like to think that we’ve been here
before and we already know the answers.
But there is no
one-size-fits-all solution to any problem. Only by fully listening
can you ensure you’re asking the right questions and ultimately gain a better
understanding of what’s going on.
Without fully understanding
your subject, how can you begin to lead them to gain self-awareness, clarify
goals and unlock their full potential? In short, sometimes the solution is not
to provide an answer but to simply understand the problem.
The Value of Listening
The value of listening is often
underestimated. Learning to truly listen is a skill that adds immeasurable
value to your executive toolset.
Below are just a few things
that can be achieved through the power of listening:
·
A deeper understanding of
a problem or issue
·
Stronger relationships
with your employees, peers, and clients
·
Showing others that you
care
And that’s not all. By
demonstrating your excellent listening skills, you can lead by example. By
showing the power of listening in action, you can help others in your
organization understand the value that listening can add to their own
departments or roles. Show your employees the importance of creating a
reflective space and let them experience the power of listening for themselves.
How can we improve our
listening skills?
So how do you do it? The best
way to improve listening skills is through active listening techniques. Making
a conscious effort to use some of these techniques will help you engage with
your employees and get the most out of every interaction. Some of these skills
and techniques may sound obvious when considered on their own. Combined, however,
they will produce powerful results.
Below are just a few active
listening techniques you can employ straight away:
Make eye contact
Shut that laptop and other
devices!
Simply making eye contact with
the individual you’re speaking to can help you to listen more effectively. When
you’re truly present, you can
process the information that is being given to you much more easily.
Demonstrate concern
Actively show that you have
empathy for your employees and others within your organization, and that you truly
care about what they are saying. This will help to build a relationship of
trust and encourage them to really open up to you about the underlying issues
or concerns they may have.
Paraphrase what you hear
Paraphrasing key information to
the individual you’re communicating with will demonstrate that you have
listened and understood what they have told you. This will give the person you
are communicating with the confidence that their leader cares and is paying
attention.
Ask open-ended questions
Open-ended questions require
more than a simple yes or no answer. They require the respondent to give more
thought and consideration to their reply. An example of an open-ended question
might be, ‘What’s holding you back from reaching your goals right now?’. This
technique will help you uncover a deeper understanding of what is going on for
your employee or peers.
Take it slow
A conversation isn’t a
competition!
Make sure there is space within
the conversation for your counterpart to express themselves without time
pressure. You can dictate the pace. If you’re a quick thinker and the
individual you’re communicating with takes time to think, then it is your responsibility
to give them the room they need to breathe and think. Giving them this space
will help to create a relaxed environment where you can both get the best
results.
Power of pause
Everyone hates an awkward
silence, but sometimes our desire to keep a conversation flowing can stop us
from taking precious moments to reflect. Hold back from filling every pause
with words and give the opposing communicator adequate time to stop and
consider what they are saying. You’ll get a more honest and considered response
this way.
Don’t interrupt
You might think you have the
perfect solution to a problem yet resist the urge to jump right in there!
Interrupting can send a variety of negative messages to your client and can
stop them from opening up to you.
Ask!
Don’t assume you know what’s
going on. Respond to questions with questions and make sure you really
understand the situation. Drill down and find out what your employees or
colleagues really think and feel. However, wait for the speaker to finish what
they’re saying before you break their train of thought.
Don’t just listen to what
they’re saying
Don’t just pay attention to
what others are saying; listen to how they’re
saying it. And listen to what they’re not saying as well. Sometimes a simple
change in someone’s tone of voice can speak volumes about how they really feel.
As a leader, it is your job to detect these changes and adjust and adapt
accordingly. Situational awareness and emotional intelligence are key.
Reflect
Make time to reflect on the
information you’ve been given by others. How can this information shape your
actions as a leader? Give yourself moments throughout the day to step back and
consider the things you’ve learned. Are there more questions you need to ask?
Reflection is a huge part of turning the knowledge you’ve gained into positive
action.
Closing Thoughts
While a growing number of
leaders these days seem intent on sharing their own knowledge and offering
solutions at rapid-fire pace, there is a lot to be gained from making space to
absorb and process information. Listening is a fundamental skill for an
effective leader, and one that will earn you more than just valuable
information.
Listening to your employees and
direct reports will help you to build the relationship of trust that you need
in order to make a positive impact on their personal and professional
development. By employing these listening techniques, you will be able to take
your leadership to the next level benefiting yourself, others, and your
business.
Let’s share experiences. Leave a comment below, send
me an email,
or find me on Twitter.
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